Collins caught short in All Blacks' long-term plan

Graham Henry was able to tick another box on his masterplan to win next year's World Cup after New Zealand dismantled Australia's gameplan in a 32-12 victory in Christchurch. The All Blacks had rested some of their best players in lacklustre Test victories over Ireland and Argentina leading to suggestions from the Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, whose side lost to both countries this summer, that the Wallabies were performing at a level some way above their neighbours.

But Henry, the All Blacks head coach, returned to his strongest line-up in the opening match of the expanded Tri-Nations tournament on Saturday to blow away any such foolish notions. New Zealand scored four tries to two and left Australia battered and bruised having been dominated at the scrum and lineout and flung backwards in defence.

The only real gaffe the All Blacks management was called upon to explain away was that committed by Jerry Collins, who was caught short à la Paula Radcliffe on the pitch before kick-off. TV footage showed the flanker to kneel and urinate in front of 34,000 fans at Jade Stadium.

New Zealand's assistant coach Steve Hansen admitted the incident was "unfortunate" but pleaded: "If you're about to play a Test and you're seconds away from kick-off and you get the urge to go to the toilet, what do you do? Do you rush off and let the game start with 14 men or do you try to be as discreet as you can. He did his best to hide it."

New Zealand took a grip on the game after Australia's No8 Rocky Elsom was sent to the sin-bin in the 27th minute for back-chat to the referee, Keven Mealamu scoring two tries while the Wallabies were a man short.

Australia's coach John Connolly had relied on a group of untested tight forwards as he looked to the long term, but insisted the performance of the South African referee Jonathan Kaplan was a greater factor in the defeat. He disputed Elsom's yellow card and wrongly claimed New Zealand's third try by Richie McCaw should not have been awarded.

Worryingly for Connolly, South Africa await in Brisbane on Saturday and will go to work on the frailties exposed by the All Blacks. "We gifted them a number of opportunities," he said. "You can't afford to slip up against opposition of that calibre."